Abstract
The sustainable building design movement has gained momentum within the United States in recent years. This has led to a proliferation of green building certification programs like Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and the development of engineered wood products (EWP) like cross laminated timber (CLT). Often, architects serve as the conduit between green building construction material and their use in construction. There is need to investigate the perceptions and practices of architects on the topic of green building certification and EWPs. In partnership with the American Institute of Architects (AIA), this study surveyed registered architects practicing in Arkansas to a) examine interest in and application of LEED certification and b) beliefs related to sustainability, affordability, and availability of EWPs. Results suggest a majority of architects surveyed have interest in the LEED program and have previously earned LEED-certification for a building design. Respondents rated the importance of improving human health and well-being as especially high but appear to doubt the ability of EWP to contribute to sustainable design. Analysis revealed that CLT use is significantly lower than that of more typical EWPs such as plywood panels and glue laminated timber. Architects also indicated that the affordability and availability of modern EWP represent significant barriers to their utilization within the state. To increase the rate of sustainable development, it will be necessary to highlight benefits to human and environmental health and generate interest amongst architectural clientele.
Highlights
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification and Sustainability goalsThe LEED certification systems is a widely recognized and implemented framework for green building design and has evolved over the years to accommodate a growing number of environmental concerns (Matisoff, Noonan, and Mazzolini, 2014; Amiri, Ottelin, and Sovari 2019)
A review of LEED buildings in New York found that only buildings of the gold tier and higher produced statistically significant reductions in energy consumption (Scofield 2013)
Familiarity and Experience with LEED Certification?. Respondents were largely both interested in and engaged with the LEED certification program, with roughly two thirds of respondents indicating prior participation. This suggests that concepts such as sustainable design and green building certification have already gained a degree of traction within the state of Arkansas
Summary
LEED Certification and Sustainability goalsThe LEED certification systems is a widely recognized and implemented framework for green building design and has evolved over the years to accommodate a growing number of environmental concerns (Matisoff, Noonan, and Mazzolini, 2014; Amiri, Ottelin, and Sovari 2019). Its criterion of sustainability for both old and new construction is comparable to that of other international green building rating systems, such as the UK-based Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) and Japan’s Comprehensive Assessment System for Building Environmental Efficiency (CASBEE) (Ahmed, Hasan, and Mallick, 2018). Findings surrounding the energy saving potential of occupied LEED certified buildings reveal that on average, commercial LEED buildings of medium energy use yield energy savings of 19-39% as compared to equivalent non-LEED counterparts, depending on factors such as age and climate (Newsham, Mancini, and Birt 2009). Amiri and others (2019) found that the energy efficiency of buildings with lower levels of LEED certification was questionable, especially at the “certified” level
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